How is one tested for Covid-19?

The test for coronavirus does not involve any blood examination. Coronavirus test includes examining of the throat swab or the nasal swab to check for infection. After taking samples, doctors posted at nodal hospitals may assess your physical health to decide whether hospitalisation is needed. Otherwise, you may be asked to stay isolated at home itself. If the tests are positive, you may require to remain quarantined for at least 14 days, till recovery.

What should you do if you want to get tested for Covid-19 in India?

Call Union health ministry's 24X7 helpline number: 01123978046. You can also mail your queries at ncov2019@gmail.com. The district surveillance officer will visit you shortly and, if chances of infection are high, you may be transported to a designated hospital for the test. Govt has placed separate ambulances for transporting suspected cases. Use of public transport isn't advised.

If you get infected with COVID-19 and recover, can you get infected again?

It's not known. A few reports from China say some people had COVID-19, recovered and then fell ill again. It's unclear if that's a relapse, a new infection, or a case where the person never fully recovered in the first place. Scientists at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in Seattle say the 30,000-letter genetic code of the virus changes by one letter every 15 days. It's not known how many of these changes would be needed for the virus to seem different enough to the immune system of someone who had a previous version of it for it to cause a fresh infection.

Can higher immunity prevent you from getting coronavirus?

Experts say the effects appear to depend on how robust or weakened a person's immune system is. The WHO and the Centre for Disease Control (CDC) have said that the two major groups of people who are more likely to be affected by the disease are the elderly and those with underlying medical conditions. People who have aged and have weak immune systems have a harder time fighting off the COVID-19 infection. People who already have an underlying health condition like heart disease, diabetes or lung disease are more prone to the infection causing severe symptoms. People with these underlying problems have a taxed immune system and cannot fight off the infection. However, you need to take the necessary precautions even if you are young and healthy.

Should I wear a mask?

According to WHO, only wear a mask if you have been diagnosed with COVID-19 or looking after a patient of COVID-19. A disposable face mask can only be used once. If you are not ill or looking after someone who is ill then you are wasting a mask. Wear a mask if you are coughing or sneezing. Masks are effective only when used in combination with frequent hand-cleaning with alcohol-based hand rub or soap and water. If you wear a mask, then you must know how to use it and dispose of it properly.

The first case of coronavirus was reported in December 2019 in the Wuhan city of China as a pneumonia outbreak. Later, its root was traced to a novel strain of coronavirus. The outbreak of coronavirus infection soon spread to other provinces of the country, forcing the govt to lockdown dozen of cities with millions of people. Within weeks, the coronavirus spread outside of the country to other nations like South Korea, Iran, Italy, United States, India, Pakistan among others. The number of positive cases of novel coronavirus infection is increasing day-by-day all across the globe. Countries around the world have taken strict decisions to close the entry of foreigners, schools, colleges, gyms, clubs, cinema halls, malls and other public places to stop the spread of Covid-19. The novel coronavirus also knocked down the global financial markets with billions of dollars being wiped off in a matter of a few weeks.

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